Congratulations! You have a new baby!...Now what?

                        
      You probably went into labor knowing it would be taxing and painful, and you planned for it in the months leading up to the big day. Unfortunately, you probably didn't get a lot of information on the physical recovery after birth. Most women know that their bodies will be different than before, but they’ve also bombarded by ads for "101 ways to get your pre-baby body back”; so, recovery is often trivialized to just getting back into your skinny jeans. You may not be prepared to see that your belly still looks four or five months pregnant, or that you are sore in places you didn’t expect. You may be dealing with a healing tear or episiotomy, or even a cesarean incision that you hadn’t planned on. You may be surprised by the fatigue that can last for the next couple of weeks and may be discouraged by the limitations it causes. Caring for a newborn means a lack of sleep for both parents that leads to further fatigue. You may even push yourself too hard and do too much, which will only prolong the recovery process and can even lead to illness.
​    Too further complicate things, it is common for people to want to visit when a baby is born. If these visitors are helpful, it can be a good thing, but often they are there to hold the baby and little else. You may feel the need to play hostess, when you are the one that need to be cared for. All these things can complicate your physical recovery.
                                      So, what can you do about it?

• You and your partner can discuss limiting visitors, or setting guidelines for them.
• You can stock up on freezer meals, or ask your friends and family to bring meals when they visit.
• You can set a goal of getting at least one short nap in while the baby sleeps, even if it means letting some other things go undone.  
• Better yet, you can consider hiring a postpartum doula who can help with all the aspects of postpartum recovery!

You have gotten through pregnancy and birth, and you will get through the physical recovery from birth. Be gentle with yourself, and ask for help when you need it. Don't compare yourself with the other moms you know. Everyone is different, and you don't always see behind the scenes. Give yourself permission to just recover and enjoy your new baby. These early days go by so quickly!